The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-23

ing up tho track. She recognized
them at once as two men who had
been discharged from construction
train that had been ct work down
Che road. What should she do? o,
if she could only send for her father
But there was no one anywhere near,
and, besides, by the time he could get
home it might be too late--for it was
evident the desperate wretches were
bent upon revenging themselves OF
their iancied wrongs upon the mno.
cent. She looked at the clock. Halt
past fourl She ran out and looked
around the lonely station. She called
once, feebly, but what was the usel
II she sent for her father she had no
tangible explanation to give or real
reason TO make him hurry home
only she was sure there was harm
coming to the down train--that long,
crowded express filled with mountain
tourists. But she must do some
ching.
The men had disappeared around
slight bend in the track. Mike ran III
locked up the Office, snatched hat
from a nail in the corner and then
hurried up the track until she arrived
at the slight curve. Then she "mndu
haste more slowly" for there were tho
men. Stepping behind clump OF
bushes she watched them. They had
stopped and were doing something.
she could not at first see what, to the
track. Pretty soon up came a rail,
and in n minute more it was thrown
down a steep ledge within four feet OF
the track-where the whole train
must be precipitated in less than an
hour ii something could not be dons
to warn them. Mike saw it all now,
and for a moment stood, her eyes
dilated with horror, while she saw the
scoundrels shake their fists toward
her way and heard an improcation.
Then they passed on and Mike, grow
ing cold in the sudden extremity, turn
ed and sped toward the depot.
The rail had been removed on a
curve which was shaded on the west
side by a high bank so that at hall
past five it was quite dusk there and
as the train always came in on
down grade they came ut full speed.
So Mike thought to herself, Pm so
glad came, for now I'll hurry and
telegraph to Stratford before the train
comes by, and we'll see, Mr.. Tramps,
how your little scheme comes out"
She reached the Office and looked at
the clock. Five minutes to livel and
the train left Stratford at SOB. Well,
eight minutes was more than plenty
OF time if she could "raise" Stratford.
She grasped the key. "Sd.sd-sd"
clicked the instrument. Never before
was there so impatient an operator
on that line. With her eyes on the
clock, which seemed then, il ever, to
say r-never-forever,"
she kept up the call. Somebody on
the other side "broke her" twice, but
she gave all the danger signals she
could think OF and kept on. The mo-
ments kept on-one, two, three, four,
five-slowly pealed the old clock-each
stroke an agony to the girl.
Meanwhile the agent at Stratford
could not operate at all, and the boy
who served asgeneral chore-boy about
the place, had gone for the cows, and
there was no one to answer the call
upon which so much depended.
A few minutes and it was too late,
and Mike was in a new dilemma.
Mike closed the key in despair She
did not know the train signals, but
seized the red flag under the old desk
and ran for dear life-literally the dear
life OF her fellow creatures. Not till
she got to the wrecked place did SHIT
remember that she must 60 beyond
| the curve to stop them or she would
be of no use Already she heard the
| approaching train rumble in the dis
lance. Faster, f,tster she sped round
| the curve straight on up the track
| She could see them now coming in. On
| they rushed; the great engine bent or
destroying It's precious freight. MIKE
stopped in the midst OF the track and
frantically swung her red flag, but still
the monster rushed toward her, show
ing no abatement OF speed.
Meanwhile the engineer and fireman
han seen the slight form OF the girl
! and the fireman stood aghast to see
the engineer so utterless regardless Of
her.
"Stop, mani" he shouted; don't
you see the girl?"
"Yes," said the halfdrunk engineer.
"Why don't the little fool get out o.
my way2 I'll teach her." ard mad,
no movement to stop.
Mike waited with sinking heart-0,
why did everything 60 against heri
Was it the will of God that this dread
full thing must happen2 The engin,
was upon her and she ran upon a iut
ting rock still waving her scarlet flag
but as the engine was alongside OF hei
she heard the sharp click OF the call
hell I'm the engine and saw the fireman